Dead Horse Gap Track

Starting from near Dead Horse Gap on the Alpine Way, this walk follows the signposted track across Bogong Creek and up the ridge to top of Kosciuszko Express chairlift. This walk provides wide views that expand as you climb, exploring a snow gum forest lower down and the open grass herb fields as you pass above the tree line. The chairlift offers an easy ride down the hill, or there are a variety of options to walk down to the village.

Covered in snow part of the year

This walk leads through an extreme alpine environment and all walkers must be well prepared. During summer, be prepared for both very hot and cold weather, high winds, rain, snow, extreme UV levels and some sections of snow or ice on the ground. Before starting this walk, check advice with Snowy Region Visitor Information Centre (02) 6450 5600, the weather forecast and the snow conditions then change your plans as needed. These notes, grades and walking times have been written for use in the summer months only. Between May and the end of October, this walk is likely to be covered in snow/ice, visitors should be carrying and be prepared to use snowshoes or cross country skis. When there is a chance of significant snow on the ground, visitors will need particularly strong navigation and snowcraft skills – tracks and signage may not be visible. For most visitors, it is best to consider this walk closed during the colder months.

Dead Horse Gap

Dead Horse Gap is a relativley low mountain pass in the Great Dividing Range at 1582m AMSL. It was once a meeting place for Aboriginal groups in the summer, where they would perform ceremonies and trade with each other. In nature the pass acts as a funnel for the migration of insects and birds[1]. In the early 20th century, the pass became increasingly popular with stockmen, who brought sheep and cattle to the mountains each summer.[2]

Moderate track

From the Cascades Trail track head car park (on the Alpine Way 5.4km west of Friday Drive), this walk crosses the road and turns left following the ‘Thredbo Walking Tracks’ sign[3] along the track behind the road barrier. The track leads down the wooden steps[4] to soon cross Bogong Creek[5] on a metal bridge[6]. Here the walk heads up a few steps to a signposted intersection[7] with the ‘Dead Horse Gap Track’.

Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the Dead Horse Gap track up the hill. The track climbs the wooden steps and continues up the hill, through the open snowgum forest. As the track approaches the top of the ridge (where the ground is much rockier), it arrives at a backless wooden bench beside some boulders.

(1.88km) Lower rest area → Upper rest area

1.3 km

37 mins

171m

-4m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the bush track up the hill. The track climbs through the snowgum forest and up the rocky hill, crossing a few wooden boardwalks and some metal walkways, until it reaches the second wooden bench.

(3.19km) Upper rest area → Above the Tree Line information sign

440 m

11 mins

40m

-1m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the second wooden bench, the walk follows the bush track up the hill towards the top of the ridge. The track emerges above the treeline and winds up past a long line of snow poles. The track then winds to the right, along the ridgeline until it reaches the information sign titled “above the tree line”.

Hard track

Continue straight: From the information sign, the walk follows the bush track along the ridgeline to the east. The track passes several rock outcrops and climbs up to the top of the ridge, from where you can see the chair lift. The track then winds down the hill to the top of the Basin Tbar.Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the bush track down the hill for a short distance, to the intersection with the Kosciuszko footpath.

Moderate track

Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows ‘Eagles Nest Restaurant’ sign[8] down along the paved path towards the chairlift building[9]. The path gently winds down the hill to find the top of the ‘Kosciuszko Express’ chairlift[10] and the Eagles Nest Restaurant[11].

Eagles Nest Restaurant

This is Australia’s highest restaurant, providing great food and outstanding views. It is easily accessible, nestled on the mountain directly opposite the top of the Kosciuszko Express chairlift, and is open year-round. For more information, call (02) 64576019.

Very easy

Turn left: From the top terminal, walk up to the platform as directed by the chairlift operator and sit down in the seat, letting it scoop you up. Once seated, pull down the safety bar and enjoy the ride down to Thredbo village. After alighting at the bottom, this walk turns right to almost immediately turn left down a set of steps and heads through the building to find an open area at the front of the ‘Valley Terminal’ building where there are some large maps.

Kosciuszko Express Chairlift

This is one of the few lifts operating in the summer months at Thredbo, and is made quite popular by thousands of people walking to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko each year. Lift tickets can be purchased from the store at the bottom of the chairlift. Lift tickets are return ( one way) per person. This lift is generally closed during November and May for maintenance each year, but the the Snowgum chair can be used at this time instead, this will add extra walking time to you walk. More info.

Maps for the Dead Horse Gap Track walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Cross sectional view of the Dead Horse Gap Track bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Dead Horse Gap Track

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

Length

5.3 km

Time

3 hrs

.

Grade 4/6

Hard track

AS 2156.1

Gradient

Short steep hills (3/6)

Quality of track

Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)

Signs

Directional signs along the way (3/6)

Experience Required

Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)

Weather

Forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather may impact on navigation and safety (4/6)

Infrastructure

Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

3.5km of this walk has short steep hills and another 1.9km is flat with no steps. The remaining (1.9km) has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track

4.8km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 2.2km follows a smooth and hardened path. The remaining (160m) follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs

Around 4.5km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 2.7km has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

Around 4.9km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 2.3km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

5km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation) and another 1.3km is affected by forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather events that may impact on navigation and safety. The remaining (510m) is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.

Infrastructure

Around 3.7km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 3.5km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Dead Horse Gap Track walk.

Fire Danger

http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_fire_danger.php?walkid=nsw-kosciunp-dhgttt
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.